The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

This was an addicting train wreck I couldn't look away from. Abby has moved to a new town to start a new life in college. Then she meets Travis Maddox. He is everything she is trying to escape, trouble. He has girls all over him, makes his money in illegal fights, has rage issues, and is known as the school player. But he has his eye on Abby so Abby decides how about we just be friends. This works for awhile since they have a lot in common and enjoy each others company. But when Abby loses a bet and has to live with Travis for 30 days she just can't deny the growing attraction and pull they have for each other.

This is actually a rather controversial read. Travis and Abby's relationship is very far from perfect and quite a bit unhealthy. He has jealous and rage issues. Abby can't make up her mind. They fight and drive each other crazy. They are a disaster but sometimes a beautiful one. They truly love each other but are bad for each other sometimes but then perfect for each other sometimes. It is a realistic look at a crazy relationship but I don't think you are supposed to go "I want that". No, it's more about just enjoying an additive train wreck and hoping these two can get it together and be there for each other, since no one else will be able to do that for these two characters.

I'm not easily offended so I enjoyed this but it definitely won't be a read for everyone. There is a lot of sex, cussing, and violence. Travis never hits Abby but if a guy looks at her sometimes he hits the guy. The author is currently working on this same book but from Travis' perspective which I will definitely be reading. It had a bit too much of the vicious circles thing that I hate, like in Anna and the French Kiss, where the couple just can't get it together. The story kept me intrigued though so I enjoyed it.

34 comments:

Ah, finally! I already read it as you know, but if I hadn't this review would have made me.

I think their relationship was - for a literary relationship with a HEA - a very unique one. The problem is imo that it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

How everything turned out in the end.. Great for them! But Abby should have known better, I think. Or not? I don't know. It was such a difficult book to read.. Even without the controversary it wasn't perfect. Both characters were a little flat, and some things felt unrealistic, but the story was so intense. (If only the book came with a bigger warning.)*sigh*

@Patricia Yup I finally attempted to put my thoughts of this crazy book into a review! It was a roller coaster of a book and yeah Abby should have and probably did know better but she was weak for Travis. The characters were flawed but they were entertaining. I liked it but didn't love it. But it was addicting and it seems you read it pretty quickly too. So the author did some things right. Some stuff was unrealistic. The Vegas stuff and some of the fighting stuff was pushing it. But it was still fiction so whatever. I just went with it.

@Lalaine Enjoy! It's pretty long but I stayed up forever because I was completely hooked on it. It was like trashy reality TV!

@Tara Turner It was great! It really kept my attention. A bit psycho at times but I like a little psycho in my book so it's okay.

@Jude Henderson You will like it I think! It has a good romance but he is just a bit psycho and stalkery! LOL So I felt I should warn some because there are a lot of reviews from people that really go off and are offended by it. But I saw that you read Forbidden! So you do like your taboo relationships! Even my super liberal self has not dared read that one yet. I don't think I could handle it.

Someone recommended this to me a few months ago but as it's only available as an ebook and I didn't have an ereader at the time, I just overlooked it. It sounds awesome! From your review, it makes me think of some of those stories I used to read on fictionpress back in the day. Thanks for bringing this back to my attention!

Oh my gosh Beautiful Disaster has to be one Of my all time favourites!! The relationship between Travis and Abby Was a complete rollercoaster and inloved how you could see flaws on either side. Loved your review, really captured the book which I know was completely hard to do :DPavan

I grabbed this book recently because I really wanted to see what I made of Travis myself. It seems most of the split opinions are over his character. Great review, Jennifer! I'm glad you rated it so high - it's definitely promising. I can't wait to get started! :)

Also, thanks for mentioning the book from Travis' POV. That definitely sounds like something to check out when it's out.

I really enjoyed it! Travis is a bit of a mess and a little unstable but I was addicted to the story and rotting for him. I'm really interested in Travis' POV. It will definitely be a good follow up to this book to see all his thoughts and feelings throughout Beautiful Disaster. Hope you enjoy it!

I was initially interested in reading this book, wanting to see how the author would present such an unhealthy relationship. I was turned off though by her behavior over at goodreads. Anyway I think this still is an interesting read, but my main issue is that it has a happy and hasty ending. I think that realisticly a relationship like that wouldn't have a happy ending, unless Travis actually had a major turn around and stopped being so psychotic...which I don't think he didAnyway, sorry for the long post, but this is such a controvertial book :))

Yeah realistically there might not be a happy ending but then again maybe. I like an HEA so I was happy with it. I heard a little bit about the author/reader drama but don't know all the details to really comment on it but I think a lot of readers were insulting her because of the story and she started defending herself and it got out of hand. Travis grew a little bit. He worked on his jealous behavior some and did try to compromise. But it definitely won't be for everyone and it is a bit controversial. Thanks for your thoughts!

This sounds like something I'd enjoy; I have a huge weakness for bad boys and it'll be good to see a relationship that's portrayed somewhat realistically, because in real-life, people fight like crazy! Also, it may just be me, but I like it when a guy is possessive and jealous about his girl....

The first time I heard this book I thought to myself "Is this another boring and ordinary love story?"... See I'm not really attracted at first with this kind of books... But after I read this one, my view changed... 'Coz this really rocked my world... Travis do have a lot of problems and Abby too... Especially, Abby... She just can't seem to see that she loves Travis, she needed a lot of trials before she accepts it....

I just can't wait for Travis' POV... And I'm still waiting for the news if Miss McGuire will push through with the idea of doing a series for this... She said she will call the series Beautiful...

Last I heard from the author she said she was working on Travis' POV and that she was also planning on another book about his brother. I forget his name. I read it on her facebook page. I can't wait to see things through Travis' eyes. Jamie McGuire said that we will understand him a lot better and see that he would never hit Abby because I guess a lot of people were saying that he would and he was too abusive. I liked the different and edgy relationship. Very addicting! Thanks for your thoughts!

I really like the old cover but I think it turned people off. It was like ahhh big ugly tongue! LOL Yeah I don't think I would date Travis. He had some good qualities but I can't put up with that kind of crap. I really enjoyed the book though.

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